Mormons, Anemia, and Charity Walk....oh my

We have A LOT going on here....probably too much actually. 

• This week we will finally submit all of our documents to apply for Ten's green card...yay...so glad that is almost over with...one of my least favorite things to do in the world is to apply for visas.
• Mia is officially anemia free...also a big yay! We found out she was anemic at her 9 month checkup (probably because she was a preemie), and we have been giving iron supplements ever since...which do not have pleasant side effects...so glad that that is all over too....as well as her little shudder attacks.
• Our apartment is screaming out...crying and begging...for some sort of spring cleaning. The piles are building up, the floor is losing space, and it just ain't pretty. How do people with babies find the time?? I'm guessing during nap time....but we are those co-sleeping weirdos you hear about...so can't.
• Speaking of naps, I am convinced I have a thyroid problem. I seriously slept  hours upon hours this weekend and still felt exhausted. Ten says he feels the same, so he must have one too.
• Also, related to energy/sleep...I am attempting to give up coffee...it has been a whole 4 or 5 days since giving it up...at first, I felt like a ZOMBIE...seriously...so I thought that if it makes me feel this way from quitting...it cannot be good...and now I feel great...though my hot chocolate consumption has drastically increased.
• I still have not taken Mia's one year pictures or done a few other things to mark her first birthday...so they are on the TDL for this week.
• Also this week: play date at the AMNH, play date in Central Park, Japanese lesson, Gymboree lessons (at least 2), Mother Goose Time, library story time, Sakura Matsuri, March for Babies, and possibly church...can you slap me now?
• I dyed my hair this weekend...a golden mahogany brown...Ten has asked to please go back blonde...I believe I shall as soon as I find a good place to get my hair did at.
• We have decided that a true family vacation is needed...like one where we stay in a hotel...our choices so far: Hannibal, Fukuoka/Tokyo, Florida, or Hawaii....Ten and I are seriously in love with Hawaii....but it is so far away....

Now for a brief Mormon update: I've had two more meetings with my missionaries...where I actually redid a lesson (on Joseph Smith) and finally got my Book of Mormon. I've finished reading 1 Nephi, and I like it so far...and believe that the Book of Mormon could be true...I mean why not. If you believe Jonah was swallowed by a whale...and Jesus walked on water...it doesn't take too much to believe that the Book of Mormon could be true.

Also, our life is slowly becoming Mormonized...we have a Hawaiian cultural event we are going to next week at the church and a block party the following week. We are also going to start attending services there as soon as we can clear up our schedule...we made an attempt today...but my thyroid problems got in the way ;) ... Also, Sundays are being transitioned into a family day...you know...no work, no TV, etc.

Say what you will, but we are happy hanging out LDS style for the moment....to at least learn more about it....I like to think that I am 70% converted, so negative comments regarding my LDS homies...will most likely offend me...Sometimes, I think that if I said I was converting to Buddhism people would be less offended...I have no idea why though....anyway, rant over.

So, here is what we have going on....no I need to be getting back to work (the paid kind)...yuck!

Rundown

I am so looking forward to the rest of this month. We have Mia's birthday this weekend, and the Sakura Festival at the end of the month. Should be lots of fun.

Mia's gym class and Japanese class are both ending this month, and I am looking forward to having the chance to reexamine our schedules a little bit.

We also have the March for Babies at the end of this month, and I'm a teeny bit worried that Mia may not want to do the whole thing. However, we have our rockin team shirts which I am excited to wear (and don't worry your donations did not go towards those...haha).

Speaking of March for Babies, I have been so happy with the donations that we have raised from friends....and to be completely honest...completely underwhelmed when it comes to my family. A few have stepped up....but not what I was expecting....note to self: lower expectations :(

Speaking of events, there is going to be a Greek festival in our neighborhood next month...and we love Greece, so we are sooo looking forward to this!!

We were so, so exhausted today and didn't get home until around 6 pm...and Ten wasn't impressed with my meager offer of old rice, leftover salmon, and half container of Trader Joe's soup (love that stuff), so we ran up the road to grab some takeout. I ordered a 3 pc chicken with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and cornbread....heavenly...and plenty leftover for lunch tomorrow....yum.

Finally, wowzer my investigating the Mormon church has brought with it a lot of (unsolicited) advice...I mean like from everywhere...even STRANGERS. I had no idea that people had such strong feelings about Mormons. For the most part, I totally appreciate everyone's opinions.

Well I'm sure I wanted to get some more things off of my chest, but it is nearing my bedtime.

Nighty Night

Plan of Salvation... Lesson 2

So, last week I had my second lesson with my Mormon missionary teachers....sigh...I think I am more confused than ever...and I haven't felt like the truth has slapped me in the face.

The topic of the lesson was The Plan of Salvation. Here are some of the points they covered with me along with some of my questions...and their answers. Here we go.

• The Fall- According to Mormonism, Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit and being kicked out of Eden is something to celebrate (I think). It was God's plan for them to commit this sin...without it we would have been too innocent to have sex and make babies, experience pain so that we would know happiness, and given agency (or the right to make our own decisions.

Okay, I am not an expert on theology...but this kind of really confused me. I asked them about the whole fact that God commanded them NOT to eat it...if he wanted them to eat it, then wouldn't he have told them that they could?

They really tried to dance around this point, and I told them that a lot of what they are saying makes sense...except for the point where God wanted them to eat it...he is God...he said DON'T...to me that seems really clear. They actually couldn't answer this question and said that they often wondered the same thing.

• The Atonement of Jesus Christ- A lot of what they said here made a lot of sense, and they explained it really well. So, I actually highly encourage people to meet with the missionaries to learn more! They do know their Bible peeps.

My problem with this point was that they said that Jesus was chosen as our Savior...not that he just is...Indeed Jesus is our older spirit brother (along with Satan), and he volunteered to go to Earth for this mission...hmmm.

• Tithing- You must pay 10% of your income to get into the highest kingdom of heaven...I have major hang ups here..why does God care about money...though...we haven't fully gotten into this topic yet, so I let their explanation slide about showing our devotion to God...I get that...but a requirement for heaven...I'm not sure.

• God was once a man and we can become like God (our own planet and all) - This is probably my most major problem with Mormonism. Yes, it is true...they believe that more than one God does exist (though we only worship our God) and we can become Gods too! Exaltation is the goal. There are some passages in the Bible that could support their ideas, so you can click on the link and read more.

Here is my problem though...I told them that maybe we can become LIKE God, but we cannot become a God...we are human. They then said, but God was once also like man. I said...this is impossible in my mind. 

They then explained how caring and loving God is. He is so smart, so perfect, etc...he had to learn this from somewhere...and he learned it through his experience as a man.

My answer...God need not learn anything...he is all knowing...he is eternal...he is GOD...the end.

They had no idea what to say, so we moved on.

Finally, I left them with some questions that I wanted them to answer during our next session. They weren't sure of the answers, and I didn't want them to feel rushed or attacked...but I do have some major issues:

• The Book of Mormon: How did horses get in there and all of that other stuff when they didn't exist in America at the time it portrays?
• Why would God ever command racism? Blacks weren't allowed in the temple up until the 1970s. They tried to say that that was because it was a different time and our generations were different. Yes, I understand...but their prophets commanded it...and they speak from God...God doesn't change with human social movements. I hinted that maybe their prophets made a mistake...and that is fine because no one is perfect...they weren't ready to admit to that...so, a discussion for next time.
• Why do they encourage single mothers to give their children up for adoption to temple worthy Mormons? I explained that I thought that this does not fit with the idea that families can be together forever. They said that this mainly applies to teenagers...I told them my mom was a single, teenage parent and found this offensive....silence.

Finally, no Book of Mormon. They have asked me if I have read it, and I said no...but they didn't give me a copy...what the F people. Maybe they haven't found me worthy of their book yet.

Anyway, so when I think about all of these points...my stomach turns...and I just know that they are not the true church.

However, if I could close my eyes and ignore all of these (huge) points, I could so become a Mormon. I LOVE what they stand for folks, and I would rock Mormonism so hard...but there are just to many things that I find to be...wrong...with it all.

Maybe our next lesson will help me understand more....I hope.

My First (kind of) Meeting with Missionaries

So...a few weeks ago I had some Mormon missionaries show up at my door. It's really strange how they arrived considering I live in a building with a doorman....but I won't go into the details of that shock as I have already told that story...to my mom...so that's enough.

However, I told them that I was busy and couldn't chat. So, as any good missionary would do, they asked if they could come back. Our second meeting was also ill fated. Mia took a tumble, and we took a trip to the emergency room. All was fine though.

Anyway, so lo and behold they came to my apartment for a second time (not surprising)...and let me tell you...it wasn't what I was expecting.

I thought that they would come and give me their "testimony," drop off a copy of the Book of Mormon and tell me to pray about, and then be on their way.

This is not what happened my friends. First of all, three girls came to visit this time. Two missionaries and a church member. We chatted a bit about our various backgrounds. They asked me if I believed in God. They asked me if I was familiar with Christianity. I told them that my mom thought they might be murderers trying to steal my baby, that their idea of heaven was kind of terrible sounding for women, and that I agreed with their concept of the Trinity. 

There was a little bit of awkwardness, and they have asked me to write down the questions that I have for them...and let me tell you...I do have quite a few! As they were getting ready to leave, they actually didn't give me a Book of Mormon (not going to lie...I was disappointed). Instead, they gave me a pamphlet about The Restoration of the Gospel which you can read here.

They also explained the proper way to pray to Heavenly Father and asked me again about my main reservations about the church. I kindly stated that I am especially concerned about raising a child in a religion that may scar her for life.

Seriously...you do not want to make her mad!

So, they asked me to please read the information and asked if they could please come back again. I said sure. I seriously was feeling pretty uninspired by the whole meeting, so I was willing to give them another shot.

Little did I know (until thanks to Mr. Google), that I am actually taking part in the missionary lessons now!! How did that happen?! You are good Mormons...very good.

Before I end this post, let me sum up the highlights:

• I told them I admire their respect for families.
• I also let them know about all of the great Mormons that we know (we are not Mormon hostiles).
• I said that I couldn't understand why God would separate a family if one was Mormon and one wasn't. Their reply was something like....well Heavenly Father wants us to be happy...so we will have a chance to become followers even in the after life.
• I asked about their prophet and just how much they believe what he says...is he infallible like our dear Pope? Their response was that he is just a man. He makes mistakes.
• They asked if I would like to go to church...which I politely declined for the moment.

That is the rundown....nothing ground breaking or exciting...like I said...pretty uninspiring....just a lot of polite conversation between strangers...hopefully the next round will make me see the light.

Do we look like a Mormon family to you?